Foxes in Moscow are approaching residents — here's why it's dangerous
As foxes increasingly appear in Moscow, an ecologist details the risks and proper conduct during encounters with these wild animals.
Feb 1, 2026 0
Foxes have been observed in urban areas of Moscow, including on building rooftops.
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Foxes in Moscow have been coming into the city more often — social media users report seeing wild animals near parked cars, in residential areas, and even on the roof of a tennis club. MSK1.RU spoke with an ecologist about why this is happening and how to behave when encountering a fox.
A fox was photographed on a tennis club roof along the Kolomenskaya Embankment.
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The main reason is hunting for food. According to ecologist Anatoly Batashev, this is also facilitated by the depth of snow cover in the city.
Ecologists warn that feeding foxes can disrupt their natural hunting habits and diet.
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«In the city, it»s tasty. A fox hunts mice and birds very well, but the problem is that now the snow cover is quite deep. When the need for food arises, foxes can wander into the city if the settlement is near a forest,« the portal»s interlocutor said.
Wildlife officials stress the importance of securing properties during fox mating season.
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When encountering a fox, one should remain calm and not touch the wild animal. It can carry rabies and other diseases, Batashev added.
«One must remember that a fox is not a sweet little creature with a fluffy tail. It is a fairly serious predator with teeth and claws. It is usually afraid of humans. Even when in a very helpless state in the forest, it typically does not approach humans; it does not trust them. It does not attack people,» the specialist explained.
Sergey Burmistrov, head of the department for the protection and monitoring of wildlife objects at the Moscow Department of Environmental Management and Protection, in a conversation with TASS, also added that during the foxes« mating season, it is important to ensure that the animals do not make burrows in basements and utility buildings.
«During the rutting season, foxes can set up nests and burrows in ground floors and basements, in utility buildings, under verandas. To prevent this, it is necessary to monitor the integrity of fences and conduct regular inspections of the areas by property owners. Moreover, foxes must absolutely not be fed: in this way, we disrupt their feeding habits,» he said.
Earlier, in the Moscow region, a rabid fox attacked a six-year-old girl.
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